Of the community, for the community

So says Stephen Stapleton, founder and director of Edge of Arabia (EoA), an independent initiative bringing contemporary Middle Eastern art to the foreground of the international scene, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. And this was very much the theme of EoA’s recent exhibition, #COMETOGETHER – taking a step back in order to get a fuller view; and not simply of an image, but of a concept, a state of mind.

Set up by a teacher, a doctor and a soldier, this initiative is all about community. These are the people who represent the people. The very fact that the exhibition is being showcased in a warehouse in East London’s multicultural Tower Hamlets is evidence that this is about community spirit and breaking down barriers. Walking through Brick Lane on my way to the gallery, I was reminded of the tangible divide between the trend-setting East End hipsters and those attending maghreb (sunset) prayers at the East London mosque. No longer accustomed to the sound of prayer calls, the musicality of the atha’an resonated in my ears. It was comforting. As a person of mixed heritage — specifically an English/Arab mix — I can very much relate to the messages being relayed by the artists of the exhibition.

#COMETOGETHER features a mix of both established and emerging artists spanning countries from the Gulf to Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Yemen. This is an initiative that provides opportunities to artists in regions of the world who do not get the same exposure or acclaim for their work as we are accustomed to in the Western world. The most inspiring aspect for me was the involvement of Arab women in this exhibition, giving female Saudi artists the chance to make their work known and to have people view it and appreciate it just like any other artist. This is something rare, and something very special. The ethos of #COMETOGETHER is one of embracing people, embracing cultures and embracing opportunity.

Contrast. Paradox. Irony. These are the words I would use to sum up the overall theme of #COMETOGETHER

The title #COMETOGETHER is an immediate reference to the world of social media, and a new form of communication. Many of us have become accustomed to conversing in a digital format, often within the restrained space of 140 characters: Twitter, Facebook — the alleged roots of the recent revolutions in the Arab world. Like the revolutionaries of the Arab Spring, the art speaks volumes, and in a multitude of different media forms. This was an all-encompassing exhibition, covering art, sculpture, light installations, film footage, photography, and the most creative use of incredibly unexpected materials. Muzamil Choudhury’s The Situation Roomis a prime example of this. Taking the famous image of The Situation Room in Washington DC as news of Bin Laden’s death is relayed to the White House, Choudhury renders the pixelated image to create an unexpected work of art. Each pixelated dot is formed using pantone fabric-swathes from his family’s knitwear factory, and as the viewer takes a step back from the piece, the image begins to take shape until the full picture becomes visible.

The warehouse space has an energy about it; our senses are struck by sound, by colour, by brightness and by darkness, by movement and by an eerie stillness. The rendering of Manhattan’s skyline by Mounir Fatmi, entitled Save Manhattan 03, takes the form of an installation constructed in physicality by sound. The skyscrapers are recreated with stereo speakers; two tall sound docks represent the twin towers. The concert of noise is an indecipherable melody of audio snippets; the real sounds of horns, crashing cars, screeching tyres collide with the fictional sounds of explosions from dozens of Hollywood blockbuster films. The speakers cast a sharply defined shadow of the Manhattan skyline that we recognised before September 11, before the Arab-West divide became quite so deeply defined.

Completely juxtaposing this divide is Fayçal Baghriche’s Blue Globe. The globe spins atsuch a speed as to erase all demarcations between countries, as continents merge and the boundaries between land and ocean become one. The globe is in eternal revolution; a simple concept, with a powerful message. Similarly, Musaed Alhulis recreates a prayer mat using bicycle chains to weave the ‘fabric’ together. The work, Dynamic expresses feelings of dynamism, of strength and a sense of freedom during prayer. Although chains are most oft associated with restraint, when used within a larger structure, (to aid the motion of a bicycle for example) they are no longer shackles. This is religion; it may seem regimented to the extent of imprisonment, and yet, liberation and enlightenment comes to those who believe in the power and freedom that religion can bring. Like art, it is all about perspective, and this lies in the eye of the beholder, in the heart of the believer

The ethos of #COMETOGETHER is one of embracing people, embracing cultures and embracing opportunity

But is this naive? In a world divided by religion, where religions themselves are divided by religion, it is sometimes hard to see the beauty. Beauty, like belief is entirely subjective. Some of the artwork I deemed beautiful at the outset, and yet on closer inspection it was dark and often disturbing. Ahmed Mater’s dramatic depiction of the holy site of Makkah is awe-inspiring. Having visited the mosque on numerous occasions, I know that it is truly beautiful, and I may have been caught up in this memory when casting my eyes over the photograph, because when I really looked at the image, I felt unsettled. The sense of awe began to dissipate as I was struck by the manic scene of construction surrounding the magnificent mosque, a sea of cranes creating a new moving landscape of urbanisation, as the number of residential flats and Hilton Hotels begin to dominate the skyline.

Contrast. Paradox. Irony. These are the words I would use to sum up the overall theme of #COMETOGETHER. An irony that proves a point, a paradox that highlights a message, and a contrast that accentuates the underlying similarities exisiting between communities and between people.

The true masterpiece of the exhibition, for me at least, was Abdulnasser Gharem’s The Capitol Dome.Not only is this a stunning creation, it is utterly poignant and you cannot help but think to yourself: “wow.”The piece is a replica of The Capitol Dome in Washington, held up by Thomas Cranford’s nineteenth century depiction of the armed goddess of Freedom. Freedom is a representation of both a host, and also an armed guard, reminding me of the saying: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. The dome’s interior resembles a mosque; an intricate mosaic of Islamic and neo-classical architectural styles adorn its walls. The rich, angular Arabic designs are in stark contrast to the smooth, white curves of the dome’s exterior. Gharem is responding here to the merging of cultures, the spreading of democratic Western values upon the Arab world, and equally to the electoral successes of Islamist parties across North Africa in recent months. Boundaries are merging and borders will continue to be crossed, no matter what the dangers involve.

These are times of great uncertainty, of conflict and disparate belief systems. And yet #COMETOGETHER is proof that this juxtaposition of contrasting elements can be incredibly powerful and inspiring. Proof that out of this disparity can come something

#COMETOGETHER will be showing until 28 October at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, London

Sarah Zakzouk falls betwixt the Arab and Western world. She works in academic publishing and is an avid reader, blogger and campaign volunteer to promote literacy and the sharing of books in public spaces. She blogs about life and anything that interests her.

Inspirational words

“There’s nothing like war for the reinvention of lives.”
- Omar El-Khairy

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